Simply the best! Festival award for West Berks ‘Proper Cider’ makers

Campaign for Real Ale cider reps dropped by The Bell at Aldworth on Saturday afternoon to present Tutts Clump Cider with yet another award.

Business owners Tim and Catherine Wale were presented with a certificate of first place for their Rum Cask cider, voted Cider of the Festival 2023 at Ascot Beer & Cider Festival in the CAMRA Berkshire South East festival competition, by Berkshire South-East CAMRA cider representative Mike Lee and West Berks CAMRA cider representative Pat Kyle.

The beer festival is organised each autumn by the Berkshire South-East branch of CAMRA at the prestigious Ascot Racecourse. One of the largest beer festivals in the South East, racegoers can enjoy the opportunity to sample their choice of more than 160 different beers, lagers, real ales, ciders and perries.

Mr Kyle said: “After a blind tasting, the Rum Cask was voted overall winner out of all the ciders available at the festival. The distinct rum flavour is a result of fermenting and aging the cider in oak rum barrels.”

Mr Lee added: “Tutts Clump’s Rum Cask won the Cider of the Festival, but we have only recently fixed a time when everyone was available to present the certificate to Tim Wale and his wife Catherine at what he considers his local, the Bell at Aldworth. Branch members of CAMRA from SE Berks, Reading and West Berks were all in attendance last Saturday.

“This is the third Cider of the Festival award that Tutts Clump has won, for three different ciders, this time for his Rum Cask.

“Rum Cask cider is fermented in rum cask barrels for part of their process and gives it a richer flavour.”

The family-run Tutts Clump business has been making award-winning cider with 100 per cent juice from real fruit since 2006. Many unwanted apples are donated locally, rather than go to waste.

Tim Wale is an agricultural/motor engineer by trade with a passion for driving Reading buses - who was born in the hamlet of Tutts Clump, near Bradfield, from where he produces and distributes the artisan cider, assisted by his wife and daughters. Tutts Clump supplies ‘Proper Cider’ to many local pubs, breweries and outlets, including the Bell.

A minibus trip of CAMRA members was organised to make the presentation but as Tutts Clump couldn’t accommodate the group, it took place at the Bell, twice CAMRA National Pub of the Year.

Tutts Clump Cider will have a stand at Newbury Show on September 21 and 22, where you can sample and buy its range of handmade ciders.